[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5408-5409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2497]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181031; FRL 5584-3]
Azoxystrobin; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption,
Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (hereafter referred to
as the ``Applicant'') to use the pesticide azoxystrobin (CAS 131860-33-
8) to treat up to 85,000 acres of rice to control benomyl-resistant
rice panicle blast and sheath blight. The Applicant proposes the use of
a new chemical; therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is
soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to
grant the exemption.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 20, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181031,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public
Response and Program Resource Branch, Field Operations Division
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments to: Rm.
1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be
accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
the docket number [OPP-181031]. No Confidential Business Information
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this
notice may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
Additional information on electronic submissions can be found below in
this document.
Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice may be
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that
does not contain CBI must be provided by the submitter for inclusion in
the public record. Information not marked
[[Page 5409]]
confidential may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. All
written comments filed pursuant to this notice will be available for
public inspection in Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall No. 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except legal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Libby Pemberton, Registration
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location, telephone number, and e-mail address: Floor 6, Crystal
Station #1, 2800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-
8326; e-mail: pemberton.libby@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p),
the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a state agency from
any registration provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency
conditions exist which require such exemption. The Applicant has
requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use
of azoxystrobin on rice to control rice panicle blast and sheath
blight. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as
part of this request.
The Applicant states that widespread use of benomyl has reportedly
resulted in the development of pathogen resistance to the chemical and
consequent loss of benomyl as a chemical disease management measure in
some crop production areas. Benomyl is the only recommended fungicide
for blast and has not been effective consistently nor is it an
effective treatment for severe blast occurrences. Data show that
azoxystrobin is effective for controlling blast. Although sheath blight
is considered the most important rice disease in Louisiana, rice blast
may be more severe in individual fields. Yield losses of 80 percent
have been experienced in individual fields planted to susceptible
varieties. The Applicant estimates that treating the requested 85,000
acres of rice would prevent losses of at least 1,000 lb/acre that would
be valued at $92 per acre, or $7.8 million for the entire acreage.
The Applicant proposes to apply azoxystrobin, manufactured by
Zeneca Ag Products, as Quadris, at a maximum rate of 0.3 lbs. active
ingredeint (a.i.) [6 oz. of product] per acre by ground or air, with a
maximum of two applications per season. A 28-day PHI will be observed.
Use under this exemption could potentially amount to a maximum 51,000
lbs. of azoxystrobin.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
application. The regulations governing section 18 require publication
of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific exemption
proposing the use of a new chemical. Such notice provides for
opportunity for public comment on the application.
A record has been established for this notice under docket number
[OPP-181031] (including comments and data submitted electronically as
described below). A public version of this record, including printed,
paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include any
information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public
record is located in Room 1132 of the Public Response and Program
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2,
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
The official record for this notice, as well as the public version,
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official
record which will also include all comments submitted directly in
writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
Accordingly, interested persons may submit written views on this
subject to the Field Operations Division at the address above.
The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the
emergency exemption requested by the Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Crisis exemptions.
Dated: January 21, 1997.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-2497 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
